Methods and apparatuses having memory cells including a monolithic semiconductor channel

ABSTRACT

Methods for forming a string of memory cells, apparatuses having a string of memory cells, and systems are disclosed. One such method for forming a string of memory cells forms a source material over a substrate. A capping material may be formed over the source material. A select gate material may be formed over the capping material. A plurality of charge storage structures may be formed over the select gate material in a plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials. A first opening may be formed through the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials, the select gate material, and the capping material. A channel material may be formed along the sidewall of the first opening. The channel material has a thickness that is less than a width of the first opening, such that a second opening is formed by the semiconductor channel material.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present embodiments relate generally to memory.

BACKGROUND

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), and non-volatile (e.g., flash) memory.

Flash memory devices typically use a one-transistor memory cell that may allow for high memory densities, high reliability, and low power consumption. Changes in threshold voltage of the cells, through programming of a charge storage structure, such as floating gates, trapping layers or other physical phenomena, may determine the data state of each cell.

The memory cells may be arranged in strings of memory cells where each string may be coupled to a source. Groups of strings of memory cells (e.g., memory blocks) may all be coupled to a common source.

As the performance of computers and other electronics continues to improve, memory manufacturers may be under pressure to continue to increase the performance of memory devices. For example, reductions in memory string current and gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) might be desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a string of memory cells.

FIGS. 2-13 illustrate embodiments of fabrication steps for forming a vertical string of memory cells having a monolithic thin semiconductor channel and a metal source.

FIGS. 14-18 illustrate embodiments of fabrication steps for forming a vertical string of memory cells having a monolithic thin semiconductor channel and a semiconductor source.

FIG. 19 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a string 100 of memory cells. For purposes of illustration only, the string 100 is shown having 16 memory cells 112. Alternate embodiments can include more or less than 16 memory cells 112. The string 100 can include a source select gate transistor 120 that may be an n-channel transistor coupled between one of the memory cells 112 at one end of the string 100 and a common source 126. The common source 126 may comprise, for example, a slot of commonly doped semiconductor material and/or other conductive material. At the other end of the string 100, a drain select gate transistor 130 may be an n-channel transistor coupled between one of the memory cells 112 and a data line (e.g., bit line) 134.

Each memory cell 112 may comprise, for example, a floating gate transistor or a charge trap transistor, and may be a single level charge storage device or a multilevel charge storage device. The memory cells 112, the source select gate transistor 120, and the drain select gate transistor 130 are controlled by signals on their respective control gates, with the signals being provided on access lines (e.g., word lines) WL0-WL15. In one embodiment, the control gates of memory cells in a row of memory cells can at least partially form an access lines.

The source select gate transistor 120 receives a control signal source select gate that controls the source select gate transistor 120 to substantially control conduction between the string 100 and the common source 126. The drain select gate transistor 130 receives a control signal that controls the drain select gate transistor 130, so that the drain select gate transistor 130 can be used to select or deselect the string 100.

The string 100 can be one of multiple strings of memory cells in a block of memory cells in a memory device, such as a NAND-architecture flash memory device. Each string of memory cells may be formed vertically in a three-dimensional fashion such that they extend outward from a substrate as opposed to in a planar manner (e.g., horizontally along the substrate).

Subsequently described FIGS. 2-11 illustrate embodiments of fabrication steps for forming vertical strings of memory cells having a monolithic thin semiconductor (e.g., polysilicon) channel and a metal source. Subsequently described FIGS. 12-16 illustrate embodiments of fabrication steps for forming vertical strings of memory cells having the monolithic thin semiconductor channel and a semiconductor source. Instead of completely filling a first opening (e.g., a trench or hole) with the semiconductor material that may act as a channel during operation, the described embodiments use a monolithic thin semiconductor channel material that may line the interior of the first opening and thus act as a monolithic thin semiconductor liner. Thus, the term “thin” may refer to the thickness of the semiconductor channel material being less than the entire width of the first opening, such that a second opening (which may be filled or unfilled) is formed by the semiconductor channel material.

FIG. 2 illustrates embodiments of fabrication steps for forming a vertical string of memory cells. A metal material 200 (e.g., metal silicide) may be formed over a substrate 209 (e.g., silicon) to act as a metal source material. An oxide or polysilicon material 210 may be formed between the substrate 209 and the metal material 200.

The metal material 200 may be a pure metal or a metal silicide. In an embodiment, the metal may include one of: tungsten, tantalum, or molybdenum. In another embodiment, the metal silicide may include one of: tungsten silicide (WSi_(X)), tantalum silicide (TaSi_(X)), or molybdenum silicide (MoSi_(X)). A metal silicide may work better as a doped source metal since it may take doping better than a pure metal material.

A capping material 202 may be formed over the metal material 200. The capping material 202 may be an oxide material, a polysilicon material, or some other capping material for sealing pores in the metal material 200. If the capping material 200 is an oxide, the oxide may be used as a source select gate oxide for the source select gate transistor 120 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The metal material 200 can be doped 204 in order to alter its electrical properties as desired. For example, arsenic or phosphorus may be used for doping 204 the metal material to create an n-type conductor. Boron or gallium may be used to dope 204 the metal material 200 to create a p-type conductor.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of another fabrication step for forming the vertical string of memory cells. A source select gate conductive material (e.g., conductively doped polysilicon) 300 may be formed over the capping material 202. In an embodiment, the source select gate conductive material 300 may be used as a source select gate. Thus, the capping material (e.g., source select gate oxide) 202 and the source select gate conductive material 300 together may be referred to as source select gate material.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a series of fabrication steps for forming the vertical string of memory cells. The fabrication steps comprise forming a stack of materials 420 to be etched later.

An etch stop material 400 may be formed over the source select gate conductive material 300. In an embodiment, the etch stop material 400 may be a metal oxide such as aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃).

A stack of alternating levels of control gate material 401, 403 and insulator material 402, 404 may be formed over the etch stop material 400. For example, the control gate material 401, 403 may be a conductive material (e.g., polysilicon) and the insulator material 402, 404 may be an oxide material. The control gate material 401, 403 may be used as the control gates of the vertically formed memory cells while the insulator material 402, 404 may be used between the memory cells to isolate adjacent memory cells from each other.

The stack of materials 420 may further comprise a drain select gate insulator material 405 (e.g., oxide) and a drain select gate conductive material (e.g., conductively doped polysilicon) 406 formed over the insulating material 404 of the alternating insulator materials 402, 404. In an embodiment, the drain select gate insulator material 405 may be a drain select gate oxide and the drain select gate conductive material 406 may be a drain select gate polysilicon. Thus, a combination of the drain select gate insulator material 405 and the drain select gate semiconductor material 406 may both be referred to as drain select gate material.

A drain select gate nitride material 407 may be formed over the drain select gate semiconductor material 406. In an embodiment, the drain select gate nitride material 407 may be a nitride hard mask.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a series of fabrication steps for forming the vertical string of memory cells. An etching step may be used to form an opening 500 in the vertical stack 420 down through the etch stop material 400. A directional etch process may be used to form recesses 501, 503 into the control gate material 403, 401 on the opening wall.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a series of fabrication steps for forming the vertical string of memory cells. A dielectric material (e.g., oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO)) 600 may be formed along the interior wall of the opening 500. The ONO material 600 may also line the walls of the recesses 501, 503. In an embodiment, the ONO material 600 may be used as a dielectric material (e.g., oxide, charge blocking) for the string of memory cells.

A charge storage material, such as a polysilicon material 601, may be formed (e.g., deposited) over the ONO material 600 along the sidewall of the opening 500. The polysilicon material 601 may also at least partially fill (e.g., in some cases completely filling) the recesses 501, 503. In an embodiment, the polysilicon material 601 may be used as the floating gates for each memory cell in the string of memory cells.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a series of fabrication steps for forming the vertical string of memory cells. A post polysilicon etch process may be used to remove polysilicon 601 (e.g., excess polysilicon) along the sidewall of the previously formed opening and to form another opening 700 through the previously formed materials 202, 300, 400. The ONO material 600 along the sidewall of the drain select gate material 405, 406 and the drain select gate nitride material 407 may be removed.

The opening 700 may be formed down to the metal material 200. The polysilicon material 601 lining the sidewall of the opening 700 may be removed leaving the polysilicon material 601 that fills the recesses 501, 503 to act as the floating gates (e.g., floating gate material) of the memory cells. Since etching through so much material 202, 300, 400 may use a powerful etching process, the metal material 200 may act as a better etch stop material than a polysilicon material.

FIG. 8 illustrates forming a gate insulator material 834, 807 (e.g., oxide) over the drain select gate material 406, the drain select gate nitride material 407, and the source select gate conductive material 300, in the opening 700. A sacrificial poly channel pillar 800 can be formed in the opening 700. Additionally, a sacrificial poly layer 833 can be formed over the oxide 834 to protect it during later etch processes. A tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) poly wet etch process can be used to remove the pillar 800 and the select gate source and drain poly 833 selectively to the gate oxide 834, 807. The wet etch process can stop on the metal material 200 as shown in FIG. 9. An insulator material (e.g., oxide) 801, 803 may be formed (e.g., grown) on other particular areas of the opening 700. For example, an oxide 801, 803 may be formed over each floating gate material 851, 853 in each recess 501, 503. In an embodiment, this oxide 801, 803 may act as a tunnel dielectric between the floating gate material 851, 853 and a thin channel material to be formed subsequently in the opening 700.

FIG. 10 illustrates that a monolithic semiconductor liner (e.g., polysilicon) 820 may be formed along the sidewall and bottom of the opening 700. The monolithic semiconductor liner 820 may be formed over the previously formed insulator materials (e.g., oxides) 801-808 and the top layer of the drain select gate nitride material 407. In an embodiment, the monolithic semiconductor liner 820 may be used as a thin channel material and operate as a channel during memory device operation. The monolithic semiconductor liner 820 may be in ohmic contact with the source material 200 and form still another opening.

The opening formed by the monolithic semiconductor liner 820 may be at least partially filled (e.g., completely filled) with an insulator material (e.g., oxide) 830. The insulator material 830 may also be formed over the monolithic semiconductor liner 820 on the top of the stack of materials. In another embodiment, the opening formed by the monolithic semiconductor liner 820 may be left hollow. This may result in subsequent fabrication steps being adjusted to compensate for the lack of support in the interior of the opening that was provided by the insulator material 830.

FIG. 11 illustrates that the insulator material 830 and semiconductor liner 820 that were formed on top of the stack may be removed, and a recess formed in the insulator material 830 formed inside the opening formed by the semiconductor liner 820. For example, an oxide and polysilicon chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) process might be used to remove these materials and form the recess in the insulator material 830 within the opening formed by the semiconductor liner 820.

FIG. 12 illustrates that a conductive material (e.g., conductively doped polysilicon) 1000 may be formed on the drain select gate nitride material 407 and at least partially into the recess formed into the insulator material 830 to fill the recess in the insulator material 830.

FIG. 13 illustrates that the top portion of the conductive material 1000 may be removed from the top of the stack of materials, leaving a conductive plug 1100 in the recess. The plug 1100 may be in contact with the monolithic semiconductor liner 820 to provide additional continuity between the end of the channel as well as provide a larger surface area on which to form subsequent materials (e.g., bit line material).

FIGS. 14-18 illustrate an embodiment of fabrication steps for forming the vertical string of memory cells having the monolithic thin semiconductor channel and a semiconductor source instead of a metal source (e.g., instead of metal source material 200 in FIG. 2). Since the source may be a semiconductor source material (e.g., polysilicon) instead of metal, additional steps may be used to protect the semiconductor material during some of the etching processes. The semiconductor source material may be doped as previously described in relation to the doping of the metal source material embodiment of FIG. 2.

In the interest of brevity, most of the common steps with the embodiments of FIGS. 2-13 have already been performed. However, instead of the step of forming the metal source material 200, the subsequent embodiments form a semiconductor (e.g., polysilicon) source material 1200.

FIG. 14 shows the semiconductor source material 1200 with an overlying insulator material (e.g., oxide) 1201. A thinner portion 1202 of the insulator material 1201 is under the opening 1205 that is filled with a semiconductor pillar 1206.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of another fabrication step for forming the vertical string of memory cells. The semiconductor pillar 1206 may be removed from the opening such that only the thin insulator material 1201 remains. In an embodiment, a TMAH poly wet etch process may be used for such a step.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of another fabrication step for forming the vertical string of memory cells. A semiconductor (e.g., polysilicon) liner 1401 may be formed in the opening. The semiconductor liner 1401 may be formed over the thinner portion 1202 of the insulator material 1201 at the bottom of the opening. In an embodiment, the semiconductor liner 1401 may be the thin channel material and used as the channel region of the string of memory cells during operation.

FIG. 17 illustrates that the thinner portion 1202 of the insulator material 1201 may be removed from the bottom of the opening 1501 leaving the semiconductor source material 1200 exposed to the hollow opening. In an embodiment, this may be accomplished by an etch process (e.g., post punch etch).

FIG. 18 illustrates that a semiconductor material 1600 is formed on the bottom of the opening such that a combination of semiconductor material 1600 and semiconductor liner 1401 forms a monolithic thin semiconductor (e.g., polysilicon) channel material along the opening walls and bottom. An insulator material (e.g., oxide) 1601 may be used to at least partially fill the hollow opening. As in previous embodiments, the insulator material 1601 may be left out in order to leave this opening hollow.

Subsequent process steps are not shown but are substantially similar to steps shown in FIGS. 11-13 wherein a plug is eventually formed to connect the thin semiconductor channel material The plug may also be used to provide an additional surface area on which subsequent processing steps may form additional materials (e.g., bit lines).

FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of a system that may use the vertically formed string of memory cells of FIGS. 1-18. A controller 1700 may be used to control operations of the system. A memory device 1701, coupled to the controller 1700, may include a memory array comprising a plurality of vertically formed strings of memory cells described above with reference to FIGS. 1-16. In an embodiment, the controller 1700 may be coupled to the memory device 1701 over control, data, and address buses. In another embodiment, the address and data buses may share a common input/output (I/O) bus.

An apparatus may be defined as circuitry, an integrated circuit die, a device, or a system.

CONCLUSION

One or more embodiments can provide a monolithic thin semiconductor channel in a three dimensional memory device (e.g., NAND flash). The monolithic thin semiconductor channel material may be formed within a first opening. The thin semiconductor channel material may be formed such that the channel material forms an ohmic contact with a source. A second opening, formed by the monolithic thin semiconductor channel material, may be filled with an insulator material or left hollow. The top of the monolithic thin semiconductor channel material may be connected with a conductive plug.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Many adaptations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for forming a string of memory cells, the method comprising: forming a plurality of charge storage structures in a plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials; forming a first opening through the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials; and forming a vertical semiconductor material along a sidewall of the opening, the vertical semiconductor material coupled to a source material and adjacent to the plurality of charge storage structures, wherein the plurality of charge storage structures are separated from the vertical semiconductor material by at least a dielectric material and the vertical semiconductor material having a thickness that is less than a width of the first opening such that a second opening is formed by the semiconductor channel material.
 2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: forming the source material; forming a capping material over the source material; and forming a select gate material over the capping material.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the source material comprises one of a metal or a polysilicon.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the metal is a metal silicide.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the metal silicide is one of: tungsten silicide (WSi_(X)), tantalum silicide (TaSi_(X)), or molybdenum silicide (MoSi_(X)).
 6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising doping the source material.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein doping the source material comprises one of: doping the source material with arsenic or phosphorus to create an n-type conductor or doping the metal silicide source material with boron or gallium to create a p-type conductor.
 8. The method of claim 1 and further comprising at least partially filling the second opening formed by the vertical semiconductor material with an oxide material.
 9. The method of claim 1 and further comprising forming a conductive plug in a top of the second opening formed by the vertical semiconductor material such that the vertical semiconductor material is coupled to the plug.
 10. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: forming a drain select gate insulator material over the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials; and forming a drain select gate conductive material over the drain select gate insulator material; wherein the first opening is formed through and adjacent to the drain select gate insulator material and the drain select gate conductive material and the vertical semiconductor material is separated from the drain select gate insulator material and the drain select gate conductive material by at least the dielectric material.
 11. A method for forming a string of memory cells, the method comprising: forming a plurality of charge storage structures in a plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials; forming a first opening through the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials; forming a monolithic semiconductor liner along a sidewall of the first opening, the monolithic semiconductor liner having an ohmic connection to a source material and being adjacent to the plurality of charge storage structures wherein the plurality of charge storage structures are separated from the monolithic semiconductor liner by a tunnel dielectric, the monolithic semiconductor liner having a thickness that is less than a width of the first opening such that a second opening is formed by the liner; forming an insulator material within the second opening formed by the monolithic semiconductor liner; and forming a conductive plug over the insulator material such that the plug connects to a top portion of the monolithic semiconductor liner.
 12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising: forming the source material over a substrate; doping the source material; forming a capping material over the source material; forming a source select gate material over the capping material; forming the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials over the source select gate material; and forming a drain select gate material over the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator material.
 13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising forming an oxide material between the substrate and the source material.
 14. The method of claim 12 and further comprising forming a polysilicon material between the substrate and the source material.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein forming the source select gate material comprises: forming a source select gate oxide over the doped source material; and forming a source select gate conductive material over the source select gate oxide.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein forming the drain select gate material comprises: forming a drain select gate oxide over a top material of the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials; and forming a drain select gate conductive material over the drain select gate oxide.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein forming the insulator material within the second opening comprises: forming an oxide within the second opening and over the drain select gate material; and removing the oxide formed over the drain select gate material and forming a recess in the oxide within the second opening.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein forming the conductive plug comprises: forming a polysilicon material within the recess and over the drain select gate material; and removing the polysilicon material formed over the drain select gate material while leaving the polysilicon material formed in the recess.
 19. The method of claim 11 wherein the monolithic semiconductor liner comprises a polysilicon material.
 20. An apparatus comprising: a vertical string of memory cells formed at least partially in a stack of materials comprising a plurality of alternating levels of control gate material and insulator material, wherein a memory cell of the string comprises: a dielectric material in a recess formed in a level of the control gate material; a charge storage structure in the recess adjacent to the dielectric material; and tunnel dielectric material adjacent to the charge storage structure; wherein a channel material of the vertical string of memory cells is adjacent to the tunnel dielectric material and extends adjacent to the plurality of alternating levels of control gate material and insulator material, the channel material having a thickness that is less than a width of a first opening through the alternating levels of control gate material and insulator material in which channel material is formed, such that a second opening is defined by the channel material; and a source coupled to the channel material.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the dielectric material comprises an oxide-nitride-oxide material.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the charge storage structure comprises polysilicon.
 23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the tunnel dielectric material comprises an oxide.
 24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the source and the channel material are connected by an ohmic contact.
 25. The apparatus of claim 20 and further comprising: a source select gate material between the plurality of alternating levels of control gate material and insulator material and the source; a drain select gate material over the alternating levels of control gate material and insulator material; and a plug coupled to the channel material.
 26. A system comprising: a controller; and a memory device coupled to the controller, the memory device comprising a memory array having a plurality of strings of memory cells, each string of memory cells of the plurality of strings of memory cells comprising: a source select gate material over a source material; a plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials over the source select gate material, each level of control gate material of the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials having a charge storage structure formed adjacent thereto; and a vertical channel material formed along a sidewall of a first opening through the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials and the select gate material, the vertical channel material coupled to the source material and being adjacent to the charge storage structures and the select gate material, wherein the charge storage structures and the select gate material are separated from the vertical channel material by at least a tunnel dielectric material, the vertical channel material having a thickness that is less than a width of the first opening, such that a second opening is defined by the vertical channel material.
 27. The system of claim 26 and further comprising drain select gate material over the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials.
 28. The system of claim 26 and further comprising a conductive plug coupled to the vertical channel material at a top of the second opening. 